Vacuum cleaner

Abstract

The invention provides a vacuum cleaner ( 10 ) having a chassis ( 12 ), supporting wheels ( 14 ) mounted on the chassis ( 12 ), drive means ( 15 ) connected to the supporting wheels ( 14 ) for driving the supporting wheels ( 14 ) and a control mechanism for controlling the drive means ( 15 ) so as to guide the vacuum cleaner ( 10 ) across a surface to be cleaned. A cleaner head ( 22 ) having a dirty air inlet ( 24 ) facing the surface to be cleaned is mounted on the chassis ( 12 ) and separating apparatus ( 52 ) is supported by the chassis ( 12 ) and communicates with the cleaner head ( 22 ) for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner ( 10 ) by way of the dirty air inlet ( 24 ). The separating apparatus ( 52 ) comprises at least one cyclone( 54,56 ). This type of separating apparatus is not prone to clogging and therefore the pick-up capability of the cleaner ( 10 ) is maintained at a high standard.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A vacuum cleaner, comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone having a cyclone body with a longitudinal axis and wherein the separating apparatus is supported on the chassis with the longitudinal axis of the cyclone body lying in a substantially horizontal position. 
     
     
       2. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises an upstream cyclone and a downstream cyclone arranged in series. 
     
     
       3. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the upstream cyclone is adapted to remove comparatively large-sized dirt and dust particles from the airflow and the downstream cyclone is adapted to remove comparatively small-sized dirt and dust particles from the airflow. 
     
     
       4. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cyclones are arranged concentrically. 
     
     
       5. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the upstream cyclone is generally cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
       6. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the downstream cyclone is frusto-conical in shape. 
     
     
       7. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the downstream cyclone is arranged inside the upstream cyclone. 
     
     
       8. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises a single cyclone which is frusto-conical in shape. 
     
     
       9. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the separating apparatus comprises a removable bin in which, in use, dirt and dust is collected. 
     
     
       10. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the removable bin is transparent or translucent. 
     
     
       11. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the removable bin forms an external part of the vacuum cleaner. 
     
     
       12. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cleaner head is connected to the chassis by means of an arm which is pivotally connected to the chassis at a first end and pivotally connected to the cleaner head at a second end. 
     
     
       13. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one power pack that is carried by the chassis and is connected to the drive and the control mechanism. 
     
     
       14. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising electrical shielding for shielding the control mechanism from electrostatic fields generated by the cyclone. 
     
     
       15. A vacuum cleaner as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet to the separating apparatus located directly above an outlet of the cleaner head. 
     
     
       16. A vacuum cleaner comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone and wherein the control mechanism is electrically shielded from electrostatic fields generated by the cyclone. 
     
     
       17. A vacuum cleaner comprising a chassis, supporting wheels mounted on the chassis, a drive connected to the supporting wheels for driving the supporting wheels, a control mechanism for controlling the drive so as to guide the vacuum cleaner across a surface to be cleaned, a cleaner head having a dirty air inlet facing the surface to be cleaned, and a separating apparatus supported by the chassis and communicating with the cleaner head for separating dirt and dust from an airflow entering the vacuum cleaner by way of the dirty air inlet, wherein the separating apparatus comprises at least one cyclone and a removable bin in which, in use, dirt and dust is collected, and wherein the removable bin is transparent or translucent.